Page 19 of Shattered Oaths

Now I’m left flying solo.

I was hoping that dragging them away from their significant others would mean that we could spend the night shooting the shit, playing some pool and just doing all the shit we used to do.

I was fucking wrong.

So far all they’ve talked about is their women. Grayson just asked Hunter how long it takes for baby shit to actually resemble shit and Killian keeps smirking at the phone he’s got hidden underneath the table.

This ‘boy’s night’ sucks ass.

“I’m goin’ to get another drink. Anyone want one?” I ask as I push to stand from my chair.

“I’m good,” Killian says, still not looking up from his phone.

“I’ll take a beer,” Gray says, holding up his empty bottle.

“I’ll come with you.” Hunter stands.

The pair of us make our way over to the bar and put our order in with April. As soon as she walks away, Hunter turns to me. “What’s up?”

I frown at my older brother. “What?”

“You’ve been quiet tonight. What’s going on?”

Between the wedding talk and the baby talk, I’m surprised he noticed.

Leaning my back against the bar, I cross my arms over my chest. “I dunno, man. Things have changed.”

“Like what?” Hunter asks, a crease forming between his brows.

“Like that.” I gesture toward our table where Grayson and Killian are both now checking their phones. “We used to have fun. Now all you three talk about are your relationships or your kids. Not that it’s a problem,” I quickly defend. “But I just don’t fit in here anymore.”

Hunter turns his body so he’s standing directly in front of me. “Is that how you feel? Like you don’t fit in?”

I nod with a sigh. “I get it, though. I don’t have what you three have. I can’t relate to you guys anymore. I just thought that coming out tonight without the girls would feel like it used to.”

I feel like an asshole for even feeling this way. It’s a natural part of life. People grow and change. They meet their person and settle down. But I can’t help feeling like I’ve been left behind.

Hunter places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Noah, I didn’t realise you felt like that. I’m sorry. You’re my brother and you’ll always fit in with us.”

I shake my head. “I’m just being stupid, man. I’m really happy for all of you. You all deserve happiness. I just…” I shrug. “Wish I had the same.”

“You will. Trust me.”

I won’t though.

Because the only person I could ever see myself settling down with, is in love with someone else. And there is not a thing I can do about that.

Trust me, I’ve tried.

Instead of admitting any of that to Hunter, I just nod. “Sure, man. One day.”

April deposits our drinks on the bar and I pay her, closing out our tab for the night. I have no doubt this’ll be their last drink before they each scurry back home to their women.

I, however, have no plans to leave anytime soon, and I certainly don’t plan on leaving alone.

Late April in Rosewater Creek means one thing, it’s tourist season. And that means women from out of town, looking for a wild night with an honest-to-God cowboy.

I don’t know what it is about women, but it seems that most, if not all, of them have some sort of cowboy fantasy. It could be the hat. Could be the boots. Could just be our bodies. Either way, I don’t care as long as I’m not going home alone.